Developing the Harmless Homo: Representations of Gay Men on U.S. Television

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Abstract

Throughout the 20th century, gay men have been portrayed in film and television through a variety of constructs aimed at addressing public anxieties around sexuality and making homosexuality less threatening to society. Extending current research around depictions of gay men in the media, we find that contemporary, 21st century representations both converge and diverge from previous representations, particularly around mannerisms and activity involvement. This research investigates four popular situational comedies, Will & Grace, The New Normal, Modern Family, and Difficult People, ...